Canada shouldn't be willing to concede anything in U.S. trade talks, Furey says
CBC
Speaking with reporters in Washington, D.C. following meetings on trade Wednesday, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said Canada hopefully won't make concessions to the United States amid threats of economic tariffs.
"I don't think we should be willing to concede anything," Furey told reporters in between meetings. "But, discussing this in public, revealing our strategy in public, will only weaken the Canadian position."
Canada's provincial and territorial leaders were in Washington on Wednesday to continue to make the case against U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on Canadian goods.
Premiers met with several House representatives in Washington and a couple of senators, according to Furey, but he didn't name anyone specifically. Other premiers wouldn't confirm either and said they would be seeing Trump officials or advisers.
Trump has delayed placing tariffs on Canadian goods until at least March 4, but also announced 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports that would stack on previously announced tariffs beginning March 12.
That uncertainty creates a poor investment climate, Furey said, adding premiers are taking a unified approach in their messaging to federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc that tariffs will hurt both Canada and the U.S.
The Newfoundland and Labrador premier also spoke about renegotiating the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) — the trade deal that emerged after Trump forced a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement — which is scheduled for a review in 2026.
WATCH | Furey speaks with reporters in Washington:
Furey said if Trump's ultimate goal with the tariffs is just to renegotiate the trade deal again, then the focus should be on CUSMA.
"It should be at an established table. Instead of waking up one morning and seeing that the table's been reset or it's been toppled over and we're starting from scratch," he said.
"Just set the structure. If CUSMA is the ultimate goal, let's talk about CUSMA."
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